Question

The 12/31/2018 balance sheet of Despot Inc. included the following: Common stock, 25 million shares at $20 par $ 500 million Paid-in capital—excess of par 3,000 million Retained earnings 980 million In January 2018, Despot recorded a transaction with this journal entry: Cash 150 million Common stock 100 million Paid-in capital—excess of par 50 million In February 2018, Despot declared cash dividends of $12 million to be paid in April of that year. What effect did the April transaction have on Despot's accounts? Decreased assets and liabilities. Increased liabilities and decreased shareholders' equity. Decreased assets and shareholders' equity. None of these answer choices are correct

Answer 1

Answer: Decreased assets and liabilities.

Explanation:

Both assets and Liabilities decrease as a result of the April transaction because first, Cash is used to pay the Dividend which reduces the cash account and Cash is an Asset.

Liabilities also decrease because when the dividends were declared in February, Despot Inc had to create a liability in their books to cater for the payment of the dividends. Now that the dividends have been paid, that figure will be removed therefore reducing Liabilities.